Archive for June 2009

The history behind Craps is quite interesting and full of uncertainties. Craps is the progeny of an extremely old game known as Hazard, however nobody is quite sure regarding the exact origins of these two games to begin with. Sir William from England is believed to be the creator of Hazard, however the name Hazard is said to be coined from the Arabic language, which clearly indicates that the roots of this game spring from the Arab world.

Craps itself did not come into existence until Hazard began being played in France. There is no difference between the two games except that Hazard was named Craps by the people in France. It was called craps because one of the moves in the game involves two as a losing number, and this move was referred to as crabs, and hence the name Craps stuck.

A few people also believe that the title Craps was derived from the French name “Johnny Crapaud,” which was associated with the people of France who have a liking for toads. However, this is not a well-known fact, and there is no one to corroborate this story or prove its origin, so it is generally accepted that the modern game of “Craps” originated in America.

There is a dichotomy in the belief whether Craps was brought to America by the people of France or Britain. There is not much in the books of history to back up any of these beliefs so our best bet is to consider both the beliefs. However, it cannot be denied that the British colonies must have had games which made use of dice, as dice games are one of the oldest gambling forms in history, which could be seen as far back as the pre-Roman era.

Regardless of who brought Craps into America, the transformations it went through in this country created the Craps we play today. When the British colonists arrived in the U.S., the French immigrants traveled south and were referred to as Cajuns. These immigrants also brought Hazard to their new settlement, and this is where Hazard evolved into Craps and was said to be introduced by African Americans in the 1800s. This is the reason why “African Dominoes” is one of the colloquial terms used for Craps by some people, though it is not as commonly used today.

Craps gradually spread throughout the country in the 19th century and it was John H. Winn who took the game to the next level by allowing a shooter to be used for a wager. It was this man who introduced Craps, as we know it today and made it what could easily be regarded as the greatest game in gambling. While it may be true that we cannot confirm the exact origins of the game, it is undeniable that it is one of the most played casino games in the world, and one, which looks set to remain so for years to come.